Citizenship by investment
Understand the programme before the proposition.
Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Programme offers four qualifying routes through an application submitted by an authorised representative and a licensed agent in Antigua and Barbuda. Eligibility, due diligence, fees and approval depend on current government rules and the applicant's circumstances.
- NDF contribution
- From US$230,000
- Approved real estate
- From US$300,000
- Residence requirement
- 5 days in 5 years
The programme
A regulated citizenship route, not a guaranteed outcome.
The programme was established under Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment legislation. The primary applicant must be over 18, satisfy the application requirements, pass due diligence and complete one qualifying investment route. The official programme publishes legislation, forms, fees and current guidance; those sources should control if this page and a third-party explanation differ.
Citizenship, tax residence, domicile, voting rights and visa access are separate questions. A passport does not determine a person's tax position, and the official CIU states that a passport does not provide automatic voting rights.
No route guarantees approval. The CIU may request additional information, and the application can be refused under the programme's eligibility and security rules. Applicants should obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before choosing a route or transferring funds.
Official routes
Four routes. One due-diligence process.
01 · Contribution
National Development Fund
A non-refundable contribution of US$230,000. Government processing, due-diligence and passport fees are additional and vary by family composition.
02 · Property
Approved real estate
Purchase property valued at a minimum of US$300,000 in an approved project. The property cannot generally be resold for five years, unless the applicant purchases an alternate officially approved property in Antigua and Barbuda.
03 · Family route
University of the West Indies Fund
A US$260,000 contribution for the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Fund, inclusive of processing fees under the official CIU description. Confirm the current family and benefit conditions with the CIU or licensed agent.
04 · Enterprise
Approved business investment
US$1.5 million for a sole investor, or a joint investment of at least US$5 million involving at least two people, with each participant investing at least US$400,000.
Family applications
The dependant rules are broader than a spouse-and-children test.
Current CIU guidance lists qualifying family categories, but dependency, age, relationship and evidence requirements apply. A licensed agent should confirm whether a particular person qualifies before an application is prepared.
- Spouse
- The main applicant's spouse may be included.
- Children
- A child aged 0–30 may qualify when financially dependent. An adult child who is physically or mentally handicapped may qualify when living with and fully supported by the main applicant.
- Parents and grandparents
- A parent or grandparent aged 55 or older may qualify when financially dependent on the principal applicant.
- Siblings
- An unmarried sibling of the main applicant or spouse may qualify under current CIU guidance.
- Later additions
- The official guidance also addresses a future spouse of the main applicant, a future spouse of a dependent child and a future child of a dependent child, with separate fees and conditions.
Application journey
The authorised-representative and licensed-agent route is part of the programme design.
- 01
Choose an authorised representative
The representative explains the programme, helps pre-screen the application and assists with the documentation. Confirm current authorisation directly through official programme channels.
- 02
Prepare and submit the application
The official checklist includes citizenship, photograph/signature, medical, investment-confirmation and agent forms, together with passport forms and supporting evidence. A licensed agent based in Antigua and Barbuda submits the application and required payments to the CIU.
- 03
Complete due diligence and respond to requests
The CIU conducts rigorous due diligence. Additional information may be requested and an interview may be required; the official how-to-apply page does not describe an interview as mandatory for every applicant.
- 04
Act only after the official decision
For the real-estate route, the CIU states that a binding purchase and sale agreement may support submission subject to the grant of citizenship, with the balance of government fees and sums due to the developer payable after approval. Follow the written instructions for the selected route.
- 05
Registration, oath and passport process
After the programme requirements are satisfied, the certificate of registration is submitted for passport processing. The official CIU says the oath and passport collection may take place in Antigua and Barbuda or through an embassy, high commission or consular office, subject to the arrangements advised by the authorised agent or representative.
Budgeting
The qualifying contribution is not the complete application budget.
Government processing fees, due-diligence fees and passport fees sit alongside the selected investment. The official schedule states that 10% of the government fee is payable and non-refundable on submission, with the balance due after an approval letter; it also states that due-diligence fees apply by family member and age category. Fees are subject to change.
For planning only, the current official schedule lists due-diligence fees of US$8,500 for the principal applicant, US$5,000 for a spouse, US$2,000 for a dependent aged 12–17 and US$4,000 for a dependent aged 18–30 or a dependent parent aged 55 and over, plus a US$300 passport fee per person. Confirm the applicable route, family composition and current schedule before relying on any total.
Official sources
CIU schedule of feesAfter approval
Citizenship brings continuing requirements.
The official CIU says the first passport is valid for five years and will be considered for renewal subject to the recipient having spent a total of five days in Antigua and Barbuda since gaining citizenship within that five-year period. The CIU citizenship page also describes consequences that may apply if the five-day requirement is not met.
The passport does not afford automatic voting rights. International travel access is destination- and policy-specific, so this page does not publish an unsupported country count or promise visa-free access. Check the destination country's current rules before travel.